Dale Devitt, Bob Morris, and Michelle Lockett. University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 maryland parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4004
Golf courses are quickly transitioning to reuse water in southern Nevada. However, superintendents have expressed concerns about proper salt balance and what the long term implications of irrigating with reuse water may be. As such, we monitored nine golf courses for a 1600 day period to assess salt loading and plant response. Three of the golf courses were long term users of reuse water (>20 years), three were scheduled to transition to reuse water during the study period and three were scheduled to remain fresh water irrigated courses. Fairways, greens and mixed landscapes were equipped with water meters, salinity sensors, TDR probes and solution extraction cups. Plants were monitored for leaf water potential, canopy temperature, tissue moisture content, chlorophyll index and color/cover visual ratings. At the end of each year, 25 surface soil samples (0-15 cm) were taken in a 5 x 5 grid (based on 2.75 m spacing) on both the fairways and greens, near sensor locations. Soil samples were analyzed for gravimetric water content and saturation extract soil salinity. Contour maps were generated by kriging the data using a Geostat software program. The data will be evaluated and discussed based on quality of water used for irrigation, water balance data, fairways vs. greens and what the implications of such spatial and temporal patterns may be on plant response.
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